Module 1:
OVERVIEW
Agriculture is a big business. Most people who work in the agricultural industry do not work on farms
but rather are employed in the feed, seed, farm machinery, fertilizer, chemical supply and food-
processing businesses.
Lesson 1:
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Learning Outcomes:
1. Describe the unique characteristics of the food and agribusiness industries.
2. Explain agribusiness.
3. Discuss farming and agriculture before agribusiness.
What is Agribusiness?
There are different meanings of agribusiness. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, agribusiness is
an industry engaged in the producing operations of a farm, the manufacture and distribution of farm
equipment and supplies, and the processing, storage, and distribution of farm commodities. This
definition conveys a very large business within the agricultural industry.
A definition by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry called the agribusiness
sector a “chain of industries directly or indirectly involved in the production, transformation or
provisions of food, fiber, and chemical substance”.
Agribusiness therefore enveloped all activities from pasturing animals, production, processing,
distribution, and retailing of food, fiber, and products based on food or fiber.
A briefer meaning calls agribusiness a generic term that refers to various businesses involved in food and
fiber production that includes farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and
distribution, processing, and retail sales of agricultural commodities.
Is Farming an Agribusiness?
The majority of people associate agriculture with "cows and plows," "weeds," "seeds," and "feeds."
Farms, on the other hand, represent simply one facet of today's agribusiness. Farms not only offer a
glimpse into traditional agriculture, but they also serve as the source of the majority of agricultural
production.
Agribusiness firms supply input supplies to farmers in the field (farmer). Food and fiber (cotton, corn,
etc.) are produced by the production agriculturist, and the output is taken by agribusiness enterprises
that process, market, and distribute the agricultural products.
Summary
Agribusiness can be defined in a variety of ways. Production agriculture is included in certain definitions
and excluded in others. Within the larger picture of agribusiness companies that supply production
agriculturists with supplies. Agribusiness corporations process, market, and distribute agricultural
products, with the output going to producing agriculturists who produce food and fiber.
Learning Tasks
How agribusiness affects our daily lives?
To get an idea of how agribusiness affects our daily lives imagine what is involved in assembling a
cheeseburger with all the trimmings. The cheeseburger and all the ingredients that go into it illustrate
the huge, diversity, and closeness of agriculture to our everyday lives.
1. List 20 business or services that are needed to get a cheeseburger ready for consumption.
2. Compile a list of the agribusinesses in your community.
3. List four agricultural developments in the Philippines.
Instruction on how to submit student output
Modules will be distributed online via Facebook Groups, Facebook Messenger, and Gmail. To submit
your work (handwritten, hardcopy and properly labeled) drop them by the school’s gate (box will be
provided) or hand it in (to the guard). Please keep in mind that if you do not submit by the deadline
(which varies depending on student and teacher agreement), you will have a corresponding deduction.
References:
Ricketts, C.et al.2013. Agribusiness Fundamentals and Applications. Second Edition: Cengage Learning
Asia Pte Ltd Phil.
Barnard, F. et al. 2012. Agribusiness Management. Fourth Edition. Routledge NY
Photo Credits:
https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/8-chefs-share-their-favorite-burger-recipes-summer-
ncna1009186
